Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-20
HYDRAULIC MINING END "A PRO.
TEST.

TEST.
The E3acerville O6seress pays a high
compliment TO Sacramento, the energy of
its people, and the pluck they have mani
Tested in facing and overcoming obstacles.
1t praises the city warmly for its pros
perity,a and the evidences that it is upon
the threshold of a new and progressive
era. Il reminds Sacramento that much of
its weatsh and commercial strength came
from Abe mining couuties. Referring to
hydraulic mining; it ADDS
We OF FL Dorado at least have never engaged
to any extent in hydraulic mining but have
sent to Sacramento millions of dollars taken
IRON err quartz and drift mines. Now that she
has become strong enough to- stand alone we
submit 1t is not fair. il is not Just il is nor manly
70 turn and attempt to break down and destroy
the industry that has given her life and strength
Mhen IT was being demonstrated that great
damage was being done to valley lands by ex-
tenslye hydraulic. mining, the. Obserrer did not
OBJECT y the valley people defending them
selves; but we do protest against the extremes
to which their fight is being carried The
quartz and drift miner understand that the
saIneSlneof action which led to the Injunction
placed on the Indian Diggings hydraillic mines
VIII eventually close Gown the ouartz and
gray q nipe' and suspend mining OF every kind
causing loss to the owners of millinus of AL
lars invested in such mills and their ditch pron.
ess In the case o. the Indian Dipeinrs
miners, the debris flowed eight miles in a rii-
VINE, Wnere the wator is caught up and carried
twenty-four miles. where it is used to propel th,
machinery OF quartz MILL after which it is
again used at quartz mine seven miles further
aiouS; Hence II valley lands are injured or the
rlver eeds hlled with debris from this mine it
WI | eSeseer that the objection applies to wafer
used III quartz mining. and that this industry
mnsl gowith that Of hydIaulicking to satisfy the
Whim OF a lew cranks who have the manage-
ment OF the anti debris side of the question.
The Observer thereupon demands that
Sacramento procure the discontinuance of
the injunction referred to, ''if the city
knows what is good for her future" Our
contemporary must understand that the
valley has never made any fight against
quartz and drift mining. Indeed. believ-
ing thst those methods do not materially.
if at all affect the integrity of navigation,
or meRace valley log lands, it has never
protested against them.
The Observer is shortsighted indeed.
after declaring, as it does, that the valley
honors itself in defending against the food
Of mining debris, and in striking down the
cause 1t, fit does not see the absurdity
OF the claim that hydraulic mine is iusti-
lied in sheltering itself behind a quartz
mill. According to its own statement the
obserrer makes cut case for the valley.
For this is in fact its elaim--a hvdraulic
miner violates the law, and the valley pro-
ceeds against him; but because the water
used by that miner and by his act made to
bear the agent that fills the rivers and
ruins low lands, is taken up and used bv
the owners of quartz mills after the NV
draulie miner has surcharged it with mud.
the prosecution must cease; and this. be-
cause to continue it will eventuate in tbe
quartz mill being deprived of that detritus
charged water.
Obviously the logieof the OJse,aer. would
give full rein to hydraulic mining, and de-
feat the very thing it asserts it favors-de-
tense against hydraulic mining. All the
mining hydraulickers would need to do un-
der such rule TO bar the way to iniunc-
hons: would be to set up quartz mills be-
low their washings that would DEPEND
upon the water from the mines above for
tilelr motive power 1t does not follow, as
our contemporary puts it, that if valley
lands are injured or river beds filed by
d elsas from hydraulic mines above quartz
mlus that use the water Of the former
therefore it is an assault upon quartz min
ing TO enjoin the original agency of de-
structissc If below every hydraulic mine
there wese twenty quartz and drift mines.
the formse would be proceeded against and
the latter Eot disturbed. 1t is not clear TO
'ss why, ii. ( hydraulic mine is shut down.
quartz minss below it may not continue
'hslr work,vi the water independently
taken and useS..
We regret tlsat the Observer should have
seen K 10 supplement its criticism with a
threat. We haze, esteemed that journal as
sair and sspen-haadtd, and not likely to be
led off int false lines of reasoning and I'M
wise methods of actis1. a threat in this
connection is wholly rncalled-for. sacra-
mento, Marysviile, Sted.. ton, every valley
county, every river and AL dr ainage inter
est are opposed to the cssEtinuance of any
h hydraulic mining that cosh ibt,tes to the
as tructlon OF the rivers. til, laws of the
Federal Government, the Co urts, State
anu Federal, have maintained t. he valley
view 1t Is the Law of the land that the
hills must not be washed down 10 /, he sil-
ing Of the streams, the destruction of nav
lgation, aud the submersion of low isaa. sin
sliekens.
To say that il a quartz miner choose. 10
take the destroying current and use it as il
passes, the valley must therefore submit
% DC overwhelmed with mud and buried
beneath mining sands, is unreasonable, alb
'urd and astounding. No; the valley has
lsser proceeded against quartz mining;
Q far as act and declaration can go it has
PROVEN tha. It has no quarrel with qua,4z